The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor More than six months after its controversial opening, the NRHA Medical Clinic is drawing mixed reviews from patients. The clinic has on average hosted more than 80 daily patient visits since opening on the third floor of the Flin Flon General Hospital on Feb. 1. "We have received positive feedback from numerous clients in the past few months and we are continually trying to improve our service and welcome all feedback," said NRHA spokesperson Corliss Patterson. Patterson said most of the seven physicians at the clinic have open appointments, meaning patients can schedule a visit within 24 to 48 hours. "The exception would be when a physician is working in the ER department or away from the community," she said. "We also keep spots open for each physician for urgent patients." Walk-in clinics are held daily, Patterson said, adding that the principles of the Advanced Access operational model Ð designed to shorten wait times Ð have been implemented but may continue to evolve. Improvement? But not all patients have noticed an improvement over the privately owned Church St. clinic that closed (except for its pharmacy) when the new facility was launched. "I don't think it's any better, that's for sure," said Harry Hobbs. While Hobbs is able to see his physician within a few days of calling for a booking, he continues to experience lengthy waits when he shows up. He said he recently had to sit for an extra 40 minutes to see his doctor despite having a scheduled appointment. "The shorter waiting times are not happening," he said. Hobbs, a retiree, also has concerns about the clinic's location three floors up. And he finds the ramp leading down to the clinic to be quite steep, particularly for those facing mobility challenges. Another patient, who asked that her name not be published, said the wait times are about the same as they were at the previous clinic. See 'Sound...' on pg. 6 Continued from pg. 1 And like Hobbs, she too has concerns about the location, though for different reasons. "It is a little unsettling when you get off the elevator and you can hear yelling and moaning from the other side of the third floor," she said. The patient further said her new doctor never remembers who she is, does not read her file before she goes into his office, and asks her the same questions over and over again. "I realize they are busy, but I would prefer if they took a few minutes and became familiar with my file before I go in," she said. As for the electronic patient files used at the clinic, the patient said she has seen her doctor struggle with the computerized system. "In some ways I preferred the old (manual) file system," she said. "They really could have modernized the old clinic if that is what it took to get doctors here. I think it takes a little more than technology to attract doctors." As John Nicol sees it, the new clinic is on par with its predecessor. "I can't say it's working any better or worse," he said. "Appointments are still half an hour late." But others are more complimentary. One patient, who also requested anonymity because of the controversy surrounding the new clinic, said he has no complaints. Brighter and better He said the new clinic is brighter and far better equipped than the old facility. He also pointed to the three new doctors who arrived at the clinic this past winter as evidence that the facility is indeed helping lure physicians as had been hoped. Then there are those like Tim Babcock, who believe patience is in order before a final judgment on the clinic can be made. "I think it's important to remember that it is going to take some time to get all the bugs worked out," said Babcock, speaking as a private citizen and not as a city councillor. "It will take some time to get all of the old, dusty paper files uploaded into the new computer-based filing system. "The key to the new facility is that it is a modern facility with the newest technology. I like that the doctors have access to computers right in their office, and that everything is linked. It's also an extremely important tool in recruiting doctors to our community. If you had the option to work in a clinic that is modern or one where you get a rash from the old dusty files, where would you go?" Patterson said clinic physicians are meeting their contractual obligations for patient visits. Doctors must have at least 25 daily patient encounters. Patterson previously said the NRHA did not have the ability to track patient encounters at the old clinic, but that has been rectified with the new facility. An independent review of the NRHA, released this past spring, found that physicians had been seeing fewer patients than their counterparts in most other practises. As for the projected financial savings from the new clinic, Patterson said those will be determined after the facility has been in operation for a full year. The NRHA has estimated it will save about $260,000 a year operating its own clinic rather than funding the old clinic, though that figure has been called into question. Patterson said the cost of constructing the clinic fell within the $1.13 budget allotted by the provincial government. Of the seven doctors at the clinic, two work on fee-for-service contracts, meaning they are paid according to how many patients they see. The others are under salaried contracts.
